Apparatus for cementing wells



June 6, 1939. E. v. cRowELl.

APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING WELLS Filed June 4, 1957 ATTORNEY.

Patented June 6, 1939 UNITED" STATI-:s

PATENT OFFICE 2,161,282 APPARATUS Foa oEMENrrmG WELLS Erd V. V(llrowell, Los Angeles), Calif. y Application June 4,' 1937, Serial No. 146,406 14 omnia.- (cl. 1661-1) This invention relates to apparatus formeementing casing in wells whereby cement4 may-be introduced into and passed downwardly through a casing string for discharge from latera ports 5 therein to fill the annular area. of a well between the wall of the hole and the casing or any secC tion thereof, and specifically contemplates improvements in the casing-valve'm'eans ofV my copending application, Serial No. 27,041, filed June l 17, 1935, issued as Patent No. 2,120,694, on June 14, 1938; Letters Patent No. 2,071,391, granted to me February 23, 1937; and my patents and applications therein mentioned.V l

Importantl objects and numerous advantages l pf my said prior application and patent are also Vapplicable to the present invention,- which being generally the provision of valve means to enable oating of the casing to position in the well bore by closure of the lower end of the casing to pressure outside thereof, adapted to be displaced to permit the passage thereby of circulating iluid into the lower bore of the casing and well to remove matter within the well tending to obstruct positioning of the casing or placement of cement outside thereof to deect cementitious .fluid 4 through lateral ports in the casingcby closure of the bore below the ports; and to subsequently prevent return tlow of the cement into the upper bore of the casing.

A principalobject distinguishing the present invention from my above-mentioned co-pending application and patent is to provide in a well casing, a pair of valves located in separate, but ccmmunicated, valve chambers, from between whicha series of cementing ports extend through the casing, said valves being adapted to close the bore through the casing above and below the ports when .desired to permit iloating the casing into the Well; circulatingthe casing with mud iiuid while positioning, if necessary or desirable; washing down the casing preparatory to cementing; closing' the bore of the casing below the lateral. ports to`deect cementitious uid pumped from the well surface therethrough; and to subsequently close the casing bore above the ports to4 minimize tendency of return flow ofthe cement into the casing.

Another object is the provision of a device of the character designated, particularly adapted for use with poppet type valves, in` combination with resilient means tonormally urge one of said valves to a position closing the bore of the casing above lateral cement-discharge ports to pressure therebelow.

Another object is to provide4 a device, as an improvement, and having the identical purposes, of mysaid Patent No.4 2,071,391, incorporating dual valves with a valve-operating spring therebetween to afford the advantage of positioning the springin a protected position within the 5 plug, thus to prevent clogging detritus from fouling the-valves, and particularly the valve-operating spring, while the casing is lowered to' position through acavey well bore.

Still other objects and salient features of my vlo invention are simplicity of construction insuring positive and improved operation, and integrality of structure to eliminate operative displacement of any of the various parts, as will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon an examination 15 of thefollowing description read in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which- Flg. 1 is a sectional view of a ported casing shoe, embodying my invention, connected to the lowerend of a string of casing;

Fig. 2 is a modification of the device shown in Fig. 1 illustrating its use as a. coupling in a combination string of casing; v

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the casing shoe of Fig. l illustrating itsuse during the step of dis- 25 charging cement from the lateral ports thereof.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numerals of which indicate similar parts throughout the several views, 5 designates a section of imperforate casing adapted to' be lowered` into a 30 well, to the lower endof which `a casing shoe 6 is threaded. 'Ihe bore of shoe 6 is grooved or corrugated in any manner well known in the art as at 1 to retain a composite hollow lapideous valve body 8 cast within A'the shoe. The valve 35 body 8 extends below the lower extremity of the shoe 6, being turned inwardly and downwardly -to form a guiding end 9 for the casing. 'I'he bore of body 8 is centrally enlarged to forma pair of upper and lower adjoining valve chambers I0 40' and II respectively.

In the upper end o1 the oat valve chamber I0 a downwardly directed annular valve seat I2 is formed, and in the lower end of the lower valve chamber' II another annular valve seat I3, 45

pressure by contact with valve seat I2 and is Y provided with concentrically aligned upper and lower valve stems, 2I and 22, respectively. Y. Lower stem 22 extends through the hub 23 of a spider 24 supported horizontally on, and integrally secured to, the lining I9 in the upper end of chamber II. .A helical spring 25 encircles stem 22 between the hub 23 of spider 24 and oattvalve 20 to urge the valve against seat I2.

A series of wings 26 are secured radially to' the upper end of stem 2|, which slidably engage the walls of lining I9 in passage I4 to maintain( proper alignment of the valve with respect to seat I2 and for other purposes later referred to. On the lower end of stem 22 below spider 24 a valve 21 is secured vwhich is adapted to 'close the bore of the casing, upon Contact with valve seat I3, to pressure thereabove; and accordingly, to deflect fluid pumped downwardly through the casing from the well surface through the ports I6. The stem 22, as is illustrated in the drawing, is shorter than the distance between the bottom of valve 20 when seated and valve seat I3 to enable both valves to remain unseated when valve 20 is opened in response to fluid pressure in .the casing above the valve, and to thereby permit mud circulating duid to pass by the valves into the passage I5 from which it may pass into the well at the lower end of the shoe, leaf spring valves I1 resiliently resisting displacement.

In the modification of my invention as shown in Fig. 2, the valve structure above described is disposed Within a collar 28 having .its opposite ends threaded as at29 for connection in a string of casing or for the connection for a casing screen 30 to the lower end of a string of imperforate casing 5. A valve body 3| is cast within the collar 28, in the manner above indicated with reference to Fig. 1, in which upper and lower adjoining valve chambers I0 and II are formed.

'Chambers I0 and II are communicated with the casing string above the collar through a central passage I4 and to the lower screen 30 through a short central passage 32. The lining I9 and valve structure therein is in this embodiment the same as that depicted in Fig. 1 and described above. i I

The operation of my invention is briefly described as follows: The casing ystring 5 having my invention incorporated, therein, either in a shoe` 6, or as a section of casing, or a c'ollar 28, is lowered 'into the well as assembled.- Float valve 20 will remain closed during this operation due to the urge of spring 25 and the pressure in the well thereagainst communicated through the lower passage I5 (Figs. 1 and 3) or 32 (Fig. 2), to minimize strain on the rig\, derrick, and equip.- ment by partially supporting the weight of the casing string on the fluidin the well. The lower end 9 of shoe 6 (Figs. l and 3) will serve to' guide thev casing by obstructions in the bore of the well.

When, the .casing has been placed in the well bore in theposition at which it is desired that it be cemented, (or even during the lowering of the casing to position, 4where this operation is obstructed by cavings or the like) circulating fluid is introduced into the casing and pumped under pressure through oat valve 20. Due partially to the upward urge of spring 25in counteracting the tendency of the 4Mvalves 20 and 21 to drop under the fluid pressure in the casing thereabove, the valves 20 and 21 will remain unseated during the flow of circulating fluid into chambers Il) and II. As above indicated the resistance of leaf spring valves I1 on the outside `of the casing normally closing ports I 6, to displacement causes the deflection and downward direction of fluid through chamber II andlower Vpassageway I5 (Figs. 1 and 3) or 32 (Fig. 2) and ings, drillings and other detritus to insure a solid foundation forv the cement subsequently placed in the well hole.

On top of the circulating fluid after the washing down operation, a traveling plug 33, comprising a cylindrical bodyslightlysmaller than the casing bore, is inserted into the casing at the well surface. Plug 33 carries a pair of collapsible packers 34 adapted during their downward movement through the casing string to slidably ,engage the wall of the casing. At the lower end of the plug 33a downward axial projection 35 of a diameter smaller than thediameter of passage' I5 is provided to contact the upper end of stem 2I and the .wings 26 and thereby depress thev valves 20 and 21. The plug 33 is followed into the casing and forced downwardly therethrough by a volume of fluent Portland cement, indicated at 36 (Fig.

3) which is introduced into the casing in an amount suflicient to fill the area. between the wall of the hole and the casing from the port I6 upwardly to any desired level..

On the cement, an indicator plug 31 is placed, carrying an upwardly turned calathiform packer 38, and the whole slug of cement between two separating plugs 33 vand 31 is pumped through the casing by circulating fluid introduced into the casing under pressure on plug 31. Upon contact of projection 35 with stem 2I the downward movement of plug 33 will force valve 21 against said seat I3 closing the bore of the shoe or collar to the further ow ofuid therebelow from the upper casing. Continued pressure from the well surface will collapse packers 34,

and cause the cement 36 from between plugs 33 and 31 to flow into chamber III. With the lower passage of the valve body closed, leaf valves I1 will be forced open and the cement discharged from ports I6 to fill the area surrounding the casing. When substantially all the cement has been expelled through the ports (there being a f small amount of tailings left in the casing and cement discharge. I feaf the position of the plug :1 on plug u. should plug 3l be displaced in any manner, for example, asmight result from a leak in the casing above plug 31, iioat valve will close in response to the urge of spring 25. 2

It will be seen by those of skill in the art to which my invention appertains that I have provided a device in which circulating uid may bedischarged from the lower end of the casing but that where such circulation `is difllcult, leaf,

,sp'rlng valves I1 will open to permit washing of the bore by the ejection of iluid through the lateral ports; and that the operation of the valvular structure, embodying preferably spring-v vpressed poppet type valves, will be assured by m the protection afforded the spring from clogging detritus tending to enter the lower end of the casing or shoe by its location between the valves.

' While I have shown but two embodiments of my invention, it will be obvious that numerous g3 changes may be made in shape, size, proportion or design of the various parts, 'and particularly in the type of valve employed; and that the valve chambers may be adjoining asshown or spaced from each other and be communicated through a -3'0 separate passage; or that the valves for the bore of the casing may be independently ,operable f with respect to each other, all without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device of the character described comprising a ported tubular member, a valve body secured within said member on each side of the port, ayp'assageway formed longitudinally through said body, valve means comprising a pair of valves arranged in said passageway,

spaced apartv with respect to each other each adapted to close the passageway lin response to 4;; pressure thereagainst, a spring above said lower valve to resiliently support the uppermost of -said valves in a position closing the passageway to the ilow of the fluid upwardly through the valve body, and a plug actuated by pressure fluid I to compel saidupper valve to openthe passageway to pressure thereabove and tov urge said lower valve to close the passageway to pressure thereabove.

2. In 'a cementing apparatus, a ported well 5:; casing section have a bore forming a passageway for pressure fluid, 'a valve seat formed in said section on each side of said port, upper valve means and lower valve means, means to connect said upper and lower valve means rigidly to each m other at spaced distance apart in said passageway'tol control the passage of uid up or down ltherethrough, I,means for resiliently supporting the uppermost valve means to-urge the same on s one of said seats to prevent the passage of uid .65 upwardly through ,the valve. body, said upper and lower` valve means adapted to lcontact said f upper and lower seats respectively. in response to a balance of pressuren the opposite sides of said valves.

3. A device of f the character described comprising, a tubular member, a valve body of lapideous material secured in said tubular member, said valve body being formed with communicating-upper andjlower valve chambers,-

75 said' valve bodyhaving an upper passageway extendingirom the 'upper valve chamber through the upper end of the body and a lower passageway extending from the lower valve chamber.

through the lower end of the body, valve means comprising .a valve in each of said chambers,

means to connect said valves to each other in spaced relation to control ythe passage of uid through -said valve ybody, the uppermost valve being resiliently supported for closing said upper passageway, and a plug actuated by pressure fluid adapted to coact with said valve means for opening the upper valve and urging said lower valve to,close the lower passageway. f,

4. A oating and guiding shoe comprising a ported tubular member adapted to be connected to the lower end of a string of casing, a plug of lapideous material 'secured in the lower end of said member, a portion of said plug projecting fromthe lower end of said member being tapered inwardly and downwardly to form a guiding end, a passageway formeducentrally and longitudinallythrough said plug, spaced apart valve means comprising an upper and a lower valve, a spring, means to support said spring between said valves, the upper valve being resiliently supported by said spring for preventing the Apassage of fluid upwardly through the upper end of the plug, and means actuated by pressure fluid to compel said lower valve to close said passageway to prevent the passage of uid downwardly through the lower end of the plug.

f 5. A oating and guiding shoe comprising a ported tubular member adapted to be connected to the lower end of a string of casing, a plug of lapideous material secured in the lower end of said member, aportion oi said plug projecting beyond the lower end of said member; said portion being of substantially the same diameter as the exterior diameter of the shoe' at the point where said plug and shoe unite, said projecting portion being tapered inwardly and downwardly I below so as to permit pressure fluidi-to flow down or up through said passageway to said. chamber and out through saidlports, a spring,'means to support said spring between said valve means to bear against said upper valve to urge said upper valve to closed position, and means actuated by said pressure uid to compel said lower valve to close said passageway to pressure thereabove, thus to deflect the flow of said pressure uid out wardly through said ports.

6. vIn, a device of the character described, a tubular member having a lateral port therein, a hollow valve body in said tubular member forming an upper and a lower valve chamber therein, valve means in each of said chambers, each adapted to close the bore through the member, iluid pressure to urge said upper valve means to open, and means between said valve means to simultaneously hold said lower valve means from its seat'.

7. In a device' of the character described, a tubular member, a hollow valve body within said member forming a pair of valve chambers therein, said valve body and tubular member having a lateral port therein, a pair of valve means to body on opposite sidesv of said port means rof lesser diameter than the valve means to space `said valve means from each other, and resilient'- means to urge said valve means to close the bore of the valve body above the port.

8. In a device of the character described, a -f connected to said iloat valve to close the bore of said member'below said valve and resilient,l means'.

10. In a device of the character described, a tubular member, means in said member forming a pair of valve chambers, a downwardly oblique upper valve seat in the uppermost of said lvalve chambers, and an upwardly oblique valve seat in said lower`valve Ichamber below said upper valve seat, valve-meansin said upper valve cham-r ber to close the bore of the member, and valve means in the lower chamber to close the bore of said member therein, and means 4to connect said valves.

11. In `a device of the characterI described, -a tubular member having a lateralport therein,

valve means to close the bore of said tubular member-above said port, to pressure therebelow, lower valve means to close the bore of said member below said port to pressure thereabove, and resilient means above said lowervalve means to urge said upper valve means-to a position closa ing the bore of said member.

12. In a device of the character described, a

tubular member, valvular means "to clse' the! Y bore of the member to pressure from-below, second valvular means to close the bore of the inember to pressure thereabove at a point belowthe closure of the member by said rst valvular means, pressure means to displace said rst means to permit the passage of iluid downwardly by the first valve, and resilient means above :said second valvular meansv to normally hold said second valve means from a position closing the bore of the member to pressure from above.

13. In a device of the character described, a tubular member, valvular means to close the bore of the member to pressure from below, second valvular means to close the vbore of the member to pressure thereabove at a point below the clolsure of said member by said rst valvular means,

pressure means to displacerst valvular means to permit the passage of uid downwardly by the rst valve, and resilient means above said sec ond valvular means to urge said rst valvular means to its position closing the` bore of the member and upon its displacement by said pressure means to hold said second valve means 4from a position closing the bore of tire member to pressure from above.

1'4. In a cementing apparatus, a tubular member, a valve body in said tubular member having a passage extending longitudinally therethrough, said passage being enlarged to form an upper and a lower valve chamber, spaced apart with f respect to each other, said tubular member having -a portptherein between said valve chambers, a valve in said upper valve chamber movable to close said passage to pressure therebelow, a valve in the lower valve chamber movable to cldse the `bore through said passage to pressure thereabove, said valves being spaced apart to form a Zone therebetween into which uid under pressure may move toA exert pressure against th underside of said upper valve.

ERD' V. CROWELL. 

